Blog
Assata Shakur
My Namesake, Assata Shakur: Carrying Forward Liberation Through Medical Illustration This week, we mark the passing of Assata Shakur — a revolutionary, a survivor, and a voice of Black liberation. For me, her loss feels deeply personal: I am her namesake. My parents named me after her because they believed in her strength, courage, and…
Read MoreRenaissance to the STEM Fair
From the Renaissance to the STEM Fair: Why Art Still Belongs in Science “Leonardo da Vinci had no formal education. Yet, he became one of the greatest engineers, anatomists, and inventors of his time—not because he studied science, but because he observed the world through drawing.” This past July was our local STEM Fair, and…
Read MoreFull Picture, Full Power: The Role of Context in Health Literacy
Understanding female anatomy shouldn’t be a mystery—but for many people, it still is. As a medical illustrator, I’ve seen how much confusion and discomfort exists around the vulva, vagina, and uterus—often because diagrams are incomplete, censored, or overly clinical. At a recent reproductive justice art show, I was reminded just how powerful a full, clear…
Read MoreCan you hold your flatulence? The Importance of the Pelvic Floor
What I learned from a pelvic floor therapist about the importance of taking good care of our pelvic floor. I recently had the opportunity to meet Brittney Davis, a pelvic floor specialist at Rock Valley Physical Therapy here in North Liberty, Iowa. Our initial meeting stemmed from a maternity project I recently completed. I quickly…
Read MoreGoing to a Museum? Bring a Sketchbook!
My favorite museum activities as an illustrator and why I can easily spend an entire day exploring even the smallest natural history museum. Recently, my husband and I went on a museum tour. We hopped on a bus with other members of the Cedar Valley Rocks and Minerals Society and went to the University of…
Read MoreDid You Wash Your Hands?
Everyone has written an article about how to wash your hands and why it’s crucial. We don’t have anything to add. At LEGACY BioStudios, LLC, we hope you and yours stay healthy, and we have a gift for you: Here is a free poster for you to download (regular letter-sized) and hang up at your…
Read MoreHow Illustration Found Me: How I Founded LEGACY BioStudios, LLC
When I introduce myself, people often ask, “How did you end up in this line of work?” My story is long, but I think it brings to light why I love the work I do so much and how LEGACY BioStudios, LLC came to be. I grew up in my family’s dental clinic, and it…
Read More#Inclusion
Why Diversity and Inclusivity Matters in Medical Illustration I was in the 2nd grade, and a friend told me my gums were dirty. My mom is a dentist and was asked to come to my 2nd-grade class to do a lesson on oral hygiene and the importance of preventative health care. Mostly a “don’t be…
Read MoreWomen’s History Month – Remembering Mary Anning
We are at the end of March which is Women’s History Month, but also the month that has International Women’s Day and National Puppy Day. Both of these days and Women’s History Month were my theme of work and reading. At the end of February on a very long drive up to Minnesota, I listened…
Read MoreNew Year, New Gear!
I have recently made the move from 3D modeling to 3D animation, and with that, I needed a little bit more power to back my rendering. I previously had a dual-core processor with 6 GB of RAM, which was great for rendering still images, but was horrendous for rendering animations. After doing an eye-bleeding amount…
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